Entertainment

Disney Launches XD with Parental Controls

Disney has launched their MySpace equivalent website for pre-teens, complete with widgets, games and videos, called Disney Xtreme Digital (XD).

All content available on the site is Disney-related, and there's plenty to choose from. The widgets can be rearranged on the page, acting similar to a pre-loaded, Disney-themed start page for kids. Users an create their own channels, earn points from playing trivia games, watch movie trailers, and choose characters with which to customize their page.

Most important to the Disney brand are the parental controls that keep children from sharing personal information, and getting themselves into trouble by any other means on the site. Acting as a supremely walled garden is far more important to Disney than the ability to import information. You can choose The Little Mermaid for your user profile, but you can't upload your own. A major problem some see with this attitude is the fact that Disney has closed themselves off from the option of exporting information as well. Why not let the widgets be placed on a Tigger-loving MySpace user?

Nevertheless, we're not sure how this particular release is much different from their last announcement back in February. But as there is a heavy emphasis on parental controls, we'll note the importance of child safety when it comes to Internet behavior and social networking.

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